Cap assembly for bottles

ABSTRACT

A cap assembly includes a base member having a tube and a rod. A cap member has an outer engaging tube and an inner engaging tube. A top plate is connected on two respective top ends of the outer engaging tube and the inner engaging tube. The inner engaging tube is inserted into an annular gap between the rod and an inner periphery of the tube and, the rod movably seals an outlet defined in the cap member. A first flange extends from an inner periphery of the outer engaging tube and is stopped by a top flange extending radially outward from a top end of the tube to prevent the cap member from being disengaged from the tube. A cover is mounted on the base member and is connected with the cap member so that users can simply open the cover to pull the cap member upward.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a cap assembly for bottles, whichincludes a cap member cooperated with a cover, so that a user does notneed to touch the cap member to drink the contents in the bottles.

2. The Prior Arts

Some bottled products such as water or sport drinks, are designed foroutdoor use and the cap assembly does not need to be separated from thebottle when users drink the water or sport drinks. This purpose isachieved by using a valve connected to the cap assembly so that theusers can have the water or sport drinks without removing a cap memberfrom the bottles.

FIGS. 7 and 8 show a conventional cap assembly that achieves the purposementioned above. The conventional cap assembly includes a base member“A” and a cap member “B”. A tube A2 extends from the base member A and afirst flange A21 extends outward from an outer periphery of the tube A2.A plurality of connection ribs are connected between the tube A2 and arod A1 in a center of the tube A2. The cap member B has an innerengaging tube B2 and an outer engaging tube B1, wherein a second flangeB11 extends outward from an inner periphery of the outer engaging tubeB1. An outlet B3 is defined through a center of the cap member B. Theinner engaging tube B2 is engaged with an inner periphery of the tubeA2, and the outer engaging tube B1 is mounted on the outer periphery ofthe tube A2 when the cap member B is mounted on the base member A. Whenthe cap member B is pushed downward, the rod A1 is engaged with theoutlet B3 and seals the outlet B3 as shown in FIG. 7. When the capmember B is pulled upward as shown in FIG. 8, the rod A1 is removed fromthe outlet B3 and the water (for example) in the bottle flows throughthe outlet B3.

However, wearing between the inner engaging tube B2 and the tube A2results a gap and the water leaks from the gap even when the rod A1 isengaged with the outlet B3. When the cap member B is pulled upward, theinner engaging tube B2 and the tube A2 contact with each other only by alimited contact area, leakage might happen at this position.

Besides, it is possible that the cap member B is disengaged from thebase member A if the users pull the cap member B too hard to move thesecond flange B11 over the first flange A21. Furthermore, the users haveto hold and pull the cap member B so that the cap member B is easilycontaminated.

The present invention intends to provide a cap assembly which does notrequire the users to contact the cap member when drinking the water inthe bottles.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In accordance with an aspect of the present invention, there is provideda cap assembly that includes a base member threadedly connected to abottle and having a tube extending from a top thereof and a rod locatedat a center of the tube. A top flange extends radially outward from atop end of the tube. A plurality of connection ribs are connectedbetween the rod and a bottom of the tube. A plurality of apertures aredefined between the connection ribs. A cap member is movably mounted onthe tube and includes an outer engaging tube and an inner engaging tubewhich shares a common axis with the outer engaging tube. A top plate isconnected on two respective top ends of the outer engaging tube and theinner engaging tube. An outlet defined through the top plate and locatedcorresponding to the rod so that when the inner engaging tube isinserted into an annular gap between the rod and an inner periphery ofthe tube, the rod movably seals the outlet. A lower end of the innerengaging tube is located corresponding to the apertures. A first flangeextends from an inner periphery of the outer engaging tube and isstopped by the top flange to prevent the cap member from beingdisengaged from the tube when the cap member is moved upward.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The present invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art byreading the following detailed description of a preferred embodimentthereof, with reference to the attached drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is an exploded view of a cap assembly in accordance with thepresent invention;

FIG. 2 shows a base member and a cap member, both being partly removed,of the cap assembly of the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a cross sectional view of the base member and the cap memberof the cap assembly of the present invention;

FIG. 4 is a cross sectional view showing that the cap member is mountedto a tube of the base member, and a rod of the base member seals anoutlet of the cap member;

FIG. 5 is a cross sectional view showing that a cover is connected withthe cap member and mounted on the base member;

FIG. 6 is a cross sectional view showing that the cover is opened andthe cap member is pulled upward;

FIG. 7 shows a conventional cap assembly, and

FIG. 8 shows that the cap member of the conventional cap assembly ispulled upward.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

With reference to the drawings and in particular to FIGS. 1-5, a capassembly in accordance with the present invention comprises a basemember 1 which includes an inner threaded periphery 14 so as to bethreadedly connected to an outer threaded periphery 31 of a bottle 3, atube 11 extending from a top of the base member 1 and a rod 12 locatedat a center of the tube 11. The rod 12 can be a solid or a hollow rod. Aplurality of connection ribs 13 are connected between the rod 12 and anbottom of the tube 11. An annular gap 15 is defined between the rod 12and an inner periphery of the tube 11. A plurality of apertures 151 aredefined between the connection ribs 13, and a top flange 111 extendsradially outward from a top end of the tube 11. The top flange 111 has atriangular cross section.

A cap member 2 has an outer engaging tube 22 and an inner engaging tube23, and the inner engaging tube 23 shares a common axis with the outerengaging tube 22. A top plate 24 is connected on two respective top endsof the outer engaging tube 22 and the inner engaging tube 23. Aperiphery of the top plate 24 on the cap member 2 forms an annular lip221. An outlet 21 is defined through the top plate 24 and locatedcorresponding to the rod 12. The inner engaging tube 23 is inserted intothe annular gap 15 of the base member 1 and a lower end 231 of the innerengaging tube 23 is located corresponding to the apertures 151. A firstflange 222 extends from an inner periphery of the outer engaging tube 22and can be stopped by the top flange 111 to prevent the cap member 2from being disengaged from the tube 11.

A cover 4 is connected with a connection strip 44 and a collar 45 isconnected to the other end of the connection strip 44. The collar 45 ismounted on the bottle 3. The cover 4 has an engaging portion 41 locatedat an inside of the cover 4 and a stop 42 extends from an innerperiphery of the engaging portion 41. The engaging portion 41 of thecover 4 is mounted on the cap member 3 and the stop 42 is engaged withthe annular lip 221. An engaging flange 43 extends from an innerperiphery thereof and the base member 1 has a groove 16 defined in anouter periphery thereof so that the engaging flange 43 is engaged withthe groove 16. The cover 4 further includes a thumb flange 46 extendingoutward therefrom.

As shown in FIG. 6, when a user wants to drink water in the bottle 3, heor she can push the thumb flange 46 upward by his or her thumb and thecover 4 is opened. Because the stop 42 is engaged with the annular lip221, so that the cap member 2 is pulled upward together with the openingof the cover 4. The cap member 2 is lifted and the rod 12 is disengagedfrom the outlet 21, so that the water in the bottle 3 can flow throughthe apertures 151, the annular gap 15 and the outlet 21.

All of the parts can be made by plastics materials so as to haverequired flexibility and the users does not contact with the cap member2 when drinking the water in the bottle 3. Besides, the connection strip44 can be used as an alternative handle as well.

Although the present invention has been described with reference to thepreferred embodiment thereof, it is apparent to those skilled in the artthat a variety of modifications and changes may be made withoutdeparting from the scope of the present invention which is intended tobe defined by the appended claims.

1. A cap assembly comprising: a base member having a tube extending froma top thereof and a rod located at a center of the tube, a top flangeextending radially outward from a top end of the tube, a plurality ofconnection ribs connected between the rod and a bottom of the tube, anannular gap defined between the rod and an inner periphery of the tube,a plurality of apertures defined between the connection ribs; and a capmember having an outer engaging tube and an inner engaging tube whichshares a common axis with the outer engaging tube, a top plate connectedon two respective top ends of the outer engaging tube and the innerengaging tube, an outlet defined through the top plate and locatedcorresponding to the rod, the inner engaging tube inserted into theannular gap of the base member and a lower end of the inner engagingtube located corresponding to the apertures, a first flange extendingfrom an inner periphery of the outer engaging tube and being stopped bythe top flange to prevent the cap member from being disengaged from thetube.
 2. The assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein a periphery of thetop plate on the cap member forms an annular lip.
 3. The assembly asclaimed in claim 2, further comprising a cover which has an engagingportion located at an inside of the cover and a stop extends from aninner periphery of the engaging portion, the engaging portion of thecover is mounted on the cap member and the stop is engaged with theannular lip.
 4. The assembly as claimed in claim 3, wherein the coverincludes an engaging flange extending from an inner periphery thereofand the base member has a groove defined in an outer periphery thereofso that the engaging flange is engaged with the groove.
 5. The assemblyas claimed in claim 3, wherein a connection strip extends from the coverand is connected with a collar which is adapted to be mounted on abottle.
 6. The assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein the rod is asolid rod.
 7. The assembly as claimed in claim 3, wherein the coverincludes a thumb flange extending outward therefrom.
 8. The assembly asclaimed in claim 1, wherein the top flange has a triangular crosssection.